Speakers
Jean-Yves Granger
Commercial and Marketing Co-ordination, Prospective Division Director, LASER
Jean Yves Granger started his career on the shop-floor in the retail sphere then as Head of Training and first Marketing Manager for Cofinoga. Later, he gained wide experience in direct marketing and operational publicity in the Wunderman and Rapp & Collins agencies. He has accumulated expertise with customers in retailing, motor trade, airlines, banks, cards and loyalty programmes.
Richard Smith
Chief Operating Officer, Lloydspharmacy
Since joining Lloydspharmacy as Chief Operating Officer in March 2005, Richard has developed and implemented the operational plan, pulling together the delivery functions of the business, Marketing, Retail, Property, Acquisitions, Field, Central, and Clinical Operations. These functions are now delivering the companies Health Agenda, achieving outstanding growth in its core markets.
Richard has focused on delivering cultural change and a programme of operational excellence required to support the NHS in its drive to implement innovative new pharmacy services, this has enabled Lloydspharmacy to lead the market in Medicine Use Reviews. In addition the company has acquired and successfully integrated one of the largest independent chains in the country, increasing the branch network to over 1500.
Prior to joining the company Richard had a broad experience in the food retail industry and latterly in his career held the senior positions of, Operations Director and Marketing Director at Somerfield PLC. He commenced his career as a management trainee for Unilever.
Rick Bendel
Group Marketing Director - ASDA Stores Limited
Rick Bendel joined ASDA as Group Marketing Director in November 2006.
Previous to this, Rick was Worldwide COO of Publicis, the fifth largest Marcom communications network in the world.
The company’s activities span advertising, DM, SP, interactive, publishing, sponsorship, brand consultancy and financial PR, operating in 82 countries and over 150 cities.
During his tenure Publicis has become the fastest growing company in its sector, and is ranked in the top 3 new business winners and has risen from a top 20 ranking in creative awards to top 5.
Rick works closely with the CEOs/CMOs of some of the top companies in the world as an advisor on marketing strategy, such as HP, Wal-Mart, Cadbury, Allied Domecq, UBS, and most recently Zurich Financial.
Rick started his career at 17, working as a media buyer for Leo Burnett.
At 19, he moved to BMP and became a strategic planner, advising Renault, Cadbury and Courage.
Following this, Rick was headhunted by Geers Gross Plc, and in 1986, at the age of 27, he became CEO of Geers Gross Plc, the youngest ever CEO of a top 10 UK agency.
During this period (1987-1991), Geers Gross doubled in size, with offices in New York and London.
Rick won IPA Effectiveness awards, working with Clairol, Zanussi and General Accident.
In April 1991, following the death of founding Chairman Bob Gross, Rick became Chairman of the Plc Board of Geers Gross Advertising Ltd at age 31.
During this year, Rick lead the merger of Geers Gross with Publicis, and following a role as CEO of the new company, he became Chairman of the Publicis Group in the UK, by then a top 3 UK communications company, including Publicis Advertising, Publicis Networks, Publicis Blueprint and Publicis Dialog.
In October 2000, Rick was given the wider role of Regional Chairman for UK, Baltic & Nordic countries. This also encompassed membership to the Publicis Executive Committee, COMEX.
Exactly two years later in October 2002, Rick was promoted to COO of Publicis Worldwide with responsibility for all the Publicis branded operations around the World. The first non-Frenchman in this role, and only the 3rd person to hold this role in the 60 year history of the company.
Rick is 48 years old, is married, has a son and daughter, is London-born and represented his country at tennis. Rick is also a keen Chelsea football fan.
Jonathon Brown
Director of Multi Channel, B & Q
Jonathon joined B&Q as Director of Multi Channel in January 2007. His current accountabilities are to drive the companies Multi Channel strategy. These include the development of our digital offering through DIY.com, the extension of our Home Delivery proposition to ensure customers can get the right products at the right price, when and where they want them. In addition he leads the definition of our online marketing strategy plans and their successful implementation.
Prior to B&Q Jonathon was Head of eChannels for Aviva looking after the online marketing and site development strategies for their portfolio of brands including RAC, Norwich Union and BSM. Jonathon joined Aviva from Coca Cola where he drove the European eBusiness strategy, delivering a portfolio of B2B and B2C online developments. Before this Jonathon was a senior member of the British Airways online team and drove the customer proposition work through BA.com including it’s re-launch in 2000 and the implementation of a number of customer centric capabilities driving improved customer engagement, revenue generation and cost reduction.
Caroline Cartellieri, Managing Director, Expedia.co.uk
Caroline joined Expedia as managing director in September 2006 with overall responsibility for the management of the UK business, including marketing, sales and e-commerce operations.
Before Expedia, Caroline gained retail and marketing experience in different industries. She held several senior positions within Kingfisher plc, Europe’s largest home improvement retailer, most recently as Director of Commercial Finance and, before that, as Head of Strategy.
Before joining Kingfisher, Caroline co-founded eDelights.com, a New York-based online retailer of high-end customisable gifts. Prior to this, she was a consultant with McKinsey & Co. and Boston Consulting Group, focusing on the retail, consumer goods and media industries.
She holds an MBA from Wharton and studied Economics at the London School of Economics.
On a personal note, Caroline is an enthusiastic skier and also enjoys running and horse riding. She is also a keen traveller and likes to discover new parts of the world.
Tom Devine
Head of Retail, Vodafone Ltd
Tom Devine leads a retail team of over 2200 staff in 347 Vodafone stores in the UK. A newcomer to Retail, Tom's experience is with large scale sales teams either on the telephone or face to face. Previous to this role, Tom was Head of Telesales and Retention for Vodafone and Director of Sales at Singlepoint. Tom spent 21 years with British Gas and his last role was Head of Direct sales. Tom passionately believes that Sales and Service are the same thing and that all people with the will, can be taught the skill of either.
Gary Hockey-Morley
Marketing Director, Post Office Ltd
Gary is an accomplished director with over 10 years experience in financial services in a variety of MD and marketing leadership roles all with P&L accountability, encompassing a range of products and distribution channels. Gary has a track record for transforming business performance by devising sound strategies, negotiating complex agreements and leading motivated well organised cross functional teams.
Gary began his career at Unilever plc engaged in solving marketing problems and accelerating business development. He followed this with 4 years at London Electricity devising and driving their new business ventures strategy.
Gary joined the then Abbey National in 1993 initially focused on acquisitions and then leading key parts of the integration of N&P building society into Abbey during 1995. Gary then held a variety of senior marketing roles before progressing to overall Marketing Director in 1999 where he conceived and implemented new retail formats and the sale of Abbey’s credit card business to MBNA. Gary then moved into managing director roles beginning by leading Abbey business which spearheaded Abbey’s attack on the business banking market and then culminating with leading Abbey’s £85 billion mortgage business generating over £800m in revenues. In the mortgage role Gary grew revenues, reversing 4 years of decline whilst growing market share.
Gary joined the Board of the Post Office in October 2006 as Marketing Director responsible for driving revenue growth and reshaping the group’s customer and product propositions.
Gary attended Henley Management College completing an MBA by distance learning and he obtained an BSc in Economics from Bristol University. Gary is divorced with two daughters, he lives in London and his interests include cycling and swimming for fitness.
Stephen Robertson
Former Marketing Director, Woolworths plc
After graduating from the University of Nottingham, Stephen trained in marketing and sales with Dunlop Consumer Products before joining Brooke Bond Oxo where he managed brands such as Oxo and PG Tips.
He then moved to Alberto Culver as Market Development Manager, before joining Mars, Four Square Division as European Marketing Manager.
Stephen then joined Mattel Toys as Marketing Director, responsible for brands such as Barbie and Disney.
He joined B&Q in 1993 and had main Board responsibility for marketing strategy, internal communications, format development and new media/home shopping. In June 2000, Stephen was appointed ceo of Kingfisher’s DIY Direct (Screwfix Direct, B&Q Direct).
Following an interim board role at WHSmith, Stephen joined Woolworths plc in 2004 until 2007 where he was Marketing Director responsible for advertising, promotions, space/format development and P.R. He was also responsible for Woolworths' Gift Vouchers Ltd and International Ladybird Sales.
Stephen was appointed non-executive director of Fresca, the UK’s largest fresh produce supplier, in November 2005.
Stephen is a Fellow and past Chairman of the Marketing Society.
Ian Blythe
Group Environment Manager, Alliance Boots PLC
Ian Blythe is the Group Environment Manager for Alliance Boots PLC, responsible for steering the group’s environmental policy and management system, minimising environmental business risk within the company's overall Corporate Social Responsibility agenda.
In 1998 he coordinated Boots first external environmental report, and has continued to drive the performance management and reporting processes within the company to where it is today. More recently this experience was used in developing Boots approach to broader CSR strategy and reporting.
Boots is in the Premier League (and 1st in the General Retailers sector) of the Business in the Environment Index, and a constituent of numerous indices - including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and FTSE4Good - all noting leading environmental management processes and performance.
Ian represents the company on various national and local committees, including the All-Party Parliamentary Environment Group, British Retail Consortium's Environment Policy Advisory Group, CBI Environmental Affairs Committee, and is Deputy Chair of INCPEN (Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment).
Adam Collett
Marketing Director, Greene King Destination Pubs
Adam started as marketing director in 2000. He directs a team of 20 staff, overseeing the work of four marketing controllers as well as the food team. Adam is responsible for a food turnover of £140m and accommodation sales of £19m with the Old English Inns brand. Instrumental to the success of the Hungry Horse brand and driving Greene King through two Publican industry award wins, Adam sits on the Greene King Destination Pub Company board.
Jonathan Banks
Business Insight Director - ACNielsen
Jonathan is a Sales and Marketing enthusiast with 30 years experience working with the UK's top Grocery manufacturers and retailers.
His impressive record of achievement comprises senior Sales and Marketing roles with several multi-national manufacturers and a retailer.
Jonathan joined ACNielsen in 2003 and is a Business Insight Director for Europe. In this role he helps major Fast Moving Consumer Goods manufacturers and retailers interpret today's trends and develop winning strategies.
He can often be found chairing or presenting to conferences around the globe. He is married with 2 children, lives near London, and is making diminishing contributions to the Old Latymerians 3rd XI football team.
Simon O’Mahony (Dip DM)
Head of Marketing - Screwfix Direct
Simon has been active in the direct marketing & catalogue industry for over 10 years.
Prior to joining Screwfix, he worked for 4 years within Staples European Mail Order Group as Marketing Manager for Neat Ideas a UK based office products supplier.
Simon has been with Screwfix Direct for 3 years. He is responsible for all aspects of marketing from acquisition to retention across three channels, managing a spend of over £20m and a team of 60+. During his tenure, sales have grown by an average of 15% per annum, e-commerce sales have grown to over 40% of total sales and the new Trade Counter channel has been launched.
Screwfix are part of the Kingfisher group and the UK’s leading supplier of screws, fixings and tools to the Trade & DIY with a turnover in excess of £340m. A 950 page catalogue containing 15,000+ skus, an award winning website & trade counter estate of 50 sites (& growing) are all managed in-house and contribute to the sustained year on year growth experienced by this multichannel retailer.
Having just completed a 2 year house renovation project, Simon has had plenty of time to get to know different trades and the Screwfix product range very well!
Andrew Ellison
Internet Controller, Schuh Ltd
Just recently celebrated 30 years in Retail – It doesn’t feel that long though!!
I started a real job in 1975, working as a trainee Stock Control Assistant with the British Shoe Corporation in Leicester. BSC had a state of the art Mainframe computer at that time. It took up a whole air-conditioned building and was probably less powerful than the PC that I am writing this on, but it fueled my interest in computers and started my career in using systems to automate time consuming tasks.
In 1986 I joined Adams Childrenswear as a merchandiser and again became involved with development of merchandising systems – working with a dedicated IT team and with outside consultants.
In 1986 I joined Schuh as Merchandise Manager. I was involved with the initial launch of our website in 2003 and took over full responsibility for the site in 2005.
Jemima Tomlinson, Director of Brand Development, Co-operative Group
Jemima Tomlinson is the Director of Brand Development for the Co-operative Group and has a federal role working with the Chief Executives of the independent societies and Co-operative affiliated bodies including Co-operatives UK an organisation that works for the benefit of all co-operative enterprises in the UK. The UK co-operative movement compromises 30+ independent retail societies, varying in size and regional representation. The largest of these is The Co-operative Group, which has an annual turnover of over £10 billion, 85,000 employees and with retail interests spanning food, travel, pharmacy, funeral and financial services.
Jemima is responsible for leading the development and delivery of the UK’s movement-wide programme to relaunch the Co-operative Brand and reinvigoration of mass membership. The brand effort launched in 2001, is aimed at giving all types of co-operative business a consistent identity, and increasing consumer trade with co-ops by making them readily identifiable as part of the co-operative family. An English Literature BA Hons and MBA (Dist) graduate, Jemima has been with the Co-operative Group for twelve years working in front line retail operational roles as well as holding senior programme delivery and change management roles across HR, Finance, IT and Marketing.